Scholarship Program

Empowering the next generation of conservation heroes.

WCN Scholarship Program

The WCN Scholarship program was founded in 2006 to discover and nurture emerging young conservationists so they can one day take up the fight for wildlife.

WCN scholars are the future of conservation. These students from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America are committed to working on wildlife conservation in their home countries. They are forward thinkers and out-of-the-box problem solvers, able to navigate the labyrinth of challenges they face protecting endangered wildlife with courage, optimism, stamina, and a nimbleness to adapt to constantly fluctuating political and cultural landscapes—always keeping an eye on the bigger picture.

Gao Yufang

Tiasa Adhya

Tiasa Adhya

Recipient of the WCN Scholarship for her work with fishing cats. Location: India University: St. Xavier’s College, University of Bombay Read Tiasa’s story

Saloni Bhatia

Saloni Bhatia

Recipient of the WCN-WCS Scholarship for her work with snow leopards. Location: India University: Nature Conservation Foundation and Manipal University Read Saloni’s story

Tashi Dhendup

Tashi Dhendup

Recipient of the Pat J. Miller Scholarship for his work with the clouded leopard, tiger, marbled cat, Asiatic golden cat, and Pallas’ cat. Location: Bhutan University: University of Montana Read...

Francy Forero

Francy Forero

Recipient of the Handsel Scholarship for her work with cotton-top tamarins. Location: Colombia University: Institute of Ecological Research (IPE) Read Francy’s story

Marina Rivero Hernandez

Marina Rivero Hernandez

Recipient of the WCN Scholarship for her work with the Baird´s tapir. Location: Mexico University: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Read Marina’s story

Agostinho Aquelino Jorge

Agostinho Aquelino Jorge

Recipient of the WCN Scholarship for his work with African lions and other large carnivores. Location: Mozambique University: University of Kwazulu-Natal Read Agostinho’s story

Monsoon Pokharel Khatiwada

Monsoon Pokharel Khatiwada

Recipient of the Sidney Byers Scholarship for her work with the dhole. Location: Nepal University: University of Oviedo Read Monsoon’s story

Lucero Maria del Carmen Vaca Leon

Lucero Maria del Carmen Vaca Leon

Recipient of the WCN Scholarship for her work with the jaguar, Baird’s tapir, white lipped peccary, and ocelot. Location: Mexico University: University of Oxford Read Lucero’s story

Giridhar Malla

Giridhar Malla

Recipient of the Pat J. Miller Scholarship for his work with fishing cats. Location: India University: Wildlife Institute of India Read Giridhar’s story

Arthur Bienvenu Muneza

Arthur Bienvenu Muneza

Recipient of the Sidney Byers Scholarship for his work with giraffes. Location: Rwanda University: Michigan State University Read Arthur’s story

Henry Mwape

Henry Mwape

Recipient of the WCN Scholarship for his work with leopards, lions, African wild dogs, and spotted hyena. Location: Zambia University: University of Arizona Read Henry’s story

An Nguyen

An Nguyen

Recipient of the Sidney Byers Scholarship for his work with large-antlered muntjac, Owston’s civets, Annamite striped rabbits, and felids. Location: Vietnam University: Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW),...

Phale Max Seele

Phale Max Seele

Recipient of the Handsel Scholarship for his work with cheetahs. Location: Botswana University: University of Botswana Read Phale’s story

Gao Yufang

Gao Yufang

Recipient of the Sidney Byers Scholarship for his work with snow leopards. Location: China University: Yale University Read Gao’s story

Tiasa Adhya

Tiasa Adhya

Recipient of the WCN Scholarship for her work with fishing cats.

Location: India
University: St. Xavier’s College, University of Bombay